 Tiger shortly after completion | |
| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Preceded by | Panther class |
| Succeeded by | None |
| History | |
 Austria-Hungary | |
| Name | SMSTiger |
| Builder | Stabilimento Tecnico Triestino,Trieste |
| Laid down | 5 October 1886 |
| Launched | 26 June 1887 |
| Completed | March 1888 |
| Renamed | Lacroma, 1906 |
| Fate | Broken up in Italy, 1920 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | Torpedo cruiser |
| Displacement | 1,657 to 1,680long tons (1,684 to 1,707 t) |
| Length | 76.02 m (249 ft 5 in) |
| Beam | 10.55 m (34 ft 7 in) |
| Draft | 4.3 m (14 ft 1 in) |
| Installed power |
|
| Propulsion | |
| Speed | 18knots (33 km/h; 21 mph) |
| Complement | 188 |
| Armament |
|
SMSTiger was atorpedo cruiser built for theAustro-Hungarian Navy in the mid-1880s. An enlarged and improved version of thePanther class, she was part of a program to build up Austria-Hungary's fleet of torpedo craft in the 1880s. ThePanther class, purchased from a British shipyard, was acquired in part to gain experience building cruisers of the type; this provided the basis for the design ofTiger. She waslaid down at theStabilimento Tecnico Triestino shipyard in October 1886, she waslaunched in June 1887, and was completed in March 1888. The ship was armed with a battery of four 12 cm (4.7 in) guns and three 35 cm (14 in)torpedo tubes, and was capable of speeds in excess of 19knots (35 km/h; 22 mph).
Tiger's career was fairly uneventful; for the majority of her active duty career, she was activated only for the summer training maneuvers in June and July. She participated in a major cruise to Germany in 1890, which saw numerous visits to other countries along the way. In 1897, she took part in an international naval demonstration off the island ofCrete to prevent enforce limits on theGreco-Turkish War. In 1906 she was converted to an admiraltyyacht and renamedLacroma. She saw no significant service duringWorld War I, and was used as abarracks ship from 1916 to the end of the conflict. Following Austria-Hungary's defeat, she was ceded as awar prize to Italy and wasbroken up in 1920.
The Austro-HungarianMarinekommandant (Navy Commander),Vizeadmiral (Vice Admiral)Maximilian Daublebsky von Sterneck, outlined in a memorandum of 8 September 1884 the requirements for atorpedo cruiser. Such a vessel should have a reinforcedbow forramming as well as torpedoes for attacks on larger warships. The cruisers would also be small and fast enough to undertake patrol andreconnaissance duties.[1] The first two ships of Sterneck's program, thePanther class, were built in Britain so theAustro-Hungarian Navy could gain experience building small cruisers. The program was overseen by the naval engineerSiegfried Popper, who was tasked with designing a third cruiser in July 1885, to be built domestically. ThePanther class provided the basis for the third ship,Tiger.[2][3][4]
A commission was convened on 16 September to discuss the parameters for the new cruiser; among the questions were whether the ship would replicate thePanther-class ships or it would be an entirely new design.Konteradmiral (Rear Admiral)Alexander Eberan von Eberhorst, who headed the commission in charge of the cruiser program, instructed Popper that the commission had decided that the new ship should have a speed of not less than 16knots (30 km/h; 18 mph) and carry two 12 cm (4.7 in) guns like thePanthers, but the ship should be some 50 long tons (51 t) larger.[4]
TheMarinesektion (Naval Section of the War Ministry) requested tenders fromStabilimento Tecnico Triestino (STT) and the British shipyardArmstrong, which had built thePanther. class. The Armstrong proposal incorporated four 12 cm guns and was slightly longer than thePanther class, allowing for finerhull lines for lesshydrodynamic resistance. STT's design was slightly smaller thanPanther, but was otherwise similar to Armstrong's ship; both firms guaranteed a speed of 17 knots (31 km/h; 20 mph) normally and 18 knots (33 km/h; 21 mph) atforced draft. The navy determined that Armstrong's design would have reduced maneuverability compared toPanther, and the hull was too lightly built, so the STT proposal was chosen on 16 March 1886. STT received the contract on 25 May, for a price of 780,000 florins; the contract stipulated a minimum speed of 18 knots, along with a bonus for every one-tenth of a knot over 18.5 knots (34.3 km/h; 21.3 mph). Popper, who had been in Britain supervising the completion ofPanther andLeopard, returned to oversee the construction ofTiger. Before work began, the builders decided to increase the length of the hull slightly to provide more space for theboiler room. Much of the steel used in the hull was domestically produced, but some material was purchased from British steelmakers.[5]
Tiger was 74.16 meters (243 ft 4 in)long at the waterline and 76.02 m (249 ft 5 in)long overall. She had abeam of 10.6 m (34 ft 9 in) and adraft of 4.3 m (14 ft 1 in) on adisplacement of 1,657 to 1,680 long tons (1,684 to 1,707 t). Hersuperstructure consisted of a smallconning tower forward. The ship had a shortforecastledeck that terminated just aft of her conning tower. She had a slightlyinverted bow. Her crew numbered 13 officers and 175 men, though this later decreased to a total of 177 officers and men. She was fitted with two polemasts.[6][7]
The ship'spropulsion system consisted of a pair of two-cylindercompoundsteam engines, with steam provided by four double-ended, coal-firedfire-tube boilers. The boilers were vented through a pair offunnels locatedamidships. The engines drove twoscrew propellers. The engines were rated at 6,222metric horsepower (4,576 kW) for a top speed of 19.2 knots (35.6 km/h; 22.1 mph), though her service speed was 18 knots (33 km/h; 21 mph) from 5,692 PS (4,186 kW). Storage capacity for coal amounted to 322 long tons (327 t). She had a cruising radius of 1,260nautical miles (2,330 km; 1,450 mi) at a more economical speed of 17.5 knots (32.4 km/h; 20.1 mph).[6][7][8]
Tiger was armed with amain battery of four 12-centimeter (4.7 in) 35-caliber (cal.) guns manufactured byKrupp in single mounts, which weresponsoned, two abreast of the funnels and the other two aft of the main mast. Close-range defense againsttorpedo boats was provided by asecondary battery of six47 mm (1.9 in)quick-firing guns and four 47 mmrevolver cannon. They were also armed with four 35 cm (13.8 in)torpedo tubes. The torpedo tubes were located singly, in the bow,stern, and at either beam. In 1906, whenTiger was converted into a yacht, she was rearmed with just the six 47 mm QF guns.[6]
Thekeel forTiger waslaid down at the Stabilimento Tecnico Triestino shipyard inTrieste on 5 October 1886. She waslaunched on 28 June 1887.[6] Completion of the ship had been delayed by manufacturing problems from the domestic steel supplier, since the initial material sent did not meet the strength requirements. STT rejected it and requested better quality steel; this forced STT to inform theMarinesektion on 20 September 1887 that it would not be able to meet its delivery date. Afterfitting-out work was completed,Tiger was ready forsea trials by February 1888. While performing speed tests, she reached a speed of 19.25 knots (35.65 km/h; 22.15 mph) with forced draft and 18.24 knots (33.78 km/h; 20.99 mph) with normal power, earning STT its bonus. The ship then had her guns and torpedo equipment installed.[9] She was commissioned into the fleet in late March.[6]Archduke Charles Stephen of Austria, then ranked aFregattenkapitän (frigate captain) served as the ship's first commander; her first duty was as theflotilla leader of aflotilla of torpedo boats, during the fleet maneuvers from 12 June to 24 July.[10]
The ship took part in the second half of the annual fleet maneuvers from 13 June to 16 July 1889 held off the coast ofDalmatia. The maneuvers tested new tactical developments, including an abandonment of theline ahead formation in favor of anen echelon formation in groups of four vessels.[10][11] She participated in the summer maneuvers in 1890, before departing on a major cruise to northern European waters. The German emperor, KaiserWilhelm II, invited the Austro-Hungarian fleet to take part in the annual fleet training exercises in August.Tiger joined theironcladsKronprinz Erzherzog Rudolf andKronprinzessin Erzherzogin Stephanie and theprotected cruiserKaiser Franz Joseph I for the trip to Germany, under the command ofRear AdmiralJohann von Hinke. While en route, the squadron made visits inGibraltar and Britain; during the latter stop, the ships took part in theCowes Regatta, where they were reviewed byQueen Victoria. The ships also stopped inCopenhagen, Denmark andKarlskrona, Sweden. The Austro-Hungarian squadron stayed in Germany from 29 August to 3 September, where they took part in anaval review. During the voyage back to Austria-Hungary, the squadron visitedCherbourg, France andPalermo, Italy. The voyage was considered to be a great success in the Austro-Hungarian Navy. After returning home,Tiger was detached from the squadron on 13 October and was decommissioned inPola on 26 October.[10][12]
The same pattern as in previous years took place in the following four years, with the exception of 1893, whenTiger was not activated for the exercises.[10] During the 1892 maneuvers,Tiger led a flotilla of torpedo craft consisting of the torpedo vesselsTrabant andPlanet, the torpedodepot shipPelikan, and twelve torpedo boats during the second phase of the exercises.[13]Tiger spent the years 1895 and 1896 inreserve status, and during the second year she was thoroughly overhauled, to include her engines and boilers. Her original 47 mm guns were replaced with new 44-cal. versions.[10]
In February 1897,Tiger deployed toCrete to serve in theInternational Squadron, a multinational force made up of ships of the Austro-Hungarian Navy,French Navy,Imperial German Navy, Italian Royal Navy (Regia Marina),Imperial Russian Navy, and BritishRoyal Navy that intervened in the 1897-1898 Greek uprising on Crete against rule by theOttoman Empire. She arrived as part of an Austro-Hungarian contingent that also includedKronprinzessin Erzherzogin Stephanie, thearmored cruiserKaiserin und Königin Maria Theresia, the torpedo cruisersLeopard andSebenico, threedestroyers, and eight torpedo boats, the third-largest contingent in the International Squadron after those of theUnited Kingdom and theKingdom of Italy.[14] While operating with the squadron,Tiger was anchored offKissamos when a severe storm threatened to force her ashore. Her crew had to cut the anchor chain loose so she could take shelter off the island ofGramvousa; divers later recovered the anchor.[10] The International Squadron operated off Crete until December 1898, but Austria-Hungary, displeased with the decision to create an autonomousCretan State under thesuzerainty of the Ottoman Empire, withdrew its ships in March 1898.[14]Tiger arrived in Pola on 31 March 1898, where she was reduced to reserve.[10]
On 29 May 1900,Tiger was reactivated, and she was assigned as theflagship of the II Division the following day. She served in this role for three months during the summer training period, before returning to the reserve fleet. In 1901, the navy decided to addbilge keels to the ship to reduce her tendency toroll in heavy seas. In addition, a 5-metric-horsepower (4.9 hp)dynamo, a steam control system, and electric lights were also installed. She participated in the summer training exercises in 1902 and 1903, before returning to reserve status on 15 September 1903.[15] In late 1903, the navy began to consider what would be done withTiger, now 15 years old, for the remainder of her career. The navy considered four options in a meeting on 19 February 1904: to keep the ship armed with her original gun battery, to disarm her, to replace them with new 40-cal. versions, or replace them with 7 cm 45-cal. guns. Ultimately, theMarinesektion rejected all four proposals, since the ship's boilers were in poor condition by that point. Instead, they decided to convert the ship into an admiraltyyacht, since she had little combat value by that time anyway. Additionally, the current yacht,Pelikan, was to be converted into a depot ship for the torpedo training school. The plan was prepared in June, and the work was to be done at the Pola Naval Arsenal.[7] The conversion work was done in 1905–1906 and she was renamedLacroma on 29 January 1906. Her armament reduced to six 47 mm QF guns and the sponsons for her main battery were removed.[6][16]
After the work was completed,Lacroma underwent sea trials beginning on 9 July 1906. She was thereafter assigned to her role as the yacht for theMarinekommandant, at that time AdmiralRudolf Montecuccoli.[7] The ship saw no significant service duringWorld War I. In 1915,Lacroma was completely disarmed and thereafter used as abarracks ship for GermanU-boat crews in Pola starting in 1916. After Austria-Hungary's defeat in November 1918, was handed over to the newRoyal Yugoslav Navy in 1918.[6][16] On 5 November, the Italian occupation forces demanded that the entire Yugoslav fleet be handed over, but Rear AdmiralMetodije Koch protested the demand to the Allied Naval Council. The council rejected his request to retain control of the fleet and allowed him to retainLacroma only, and only in a disarmed state. This was only a temporary situation, however, as the fate of the former Austro-Hungarian fleet was determined at theParis Peace Conference.[17] In the postwar division ofwar prizes, the ship was awarded to Italy, where she wasbroken up in 1920.[6][16]
